The 5 Best One-Word Punchlines in Comedic History

I love comedy in all its shapes and sizes: slapstick, puns, amusing anecdotes, wry criticism, absurdity, satire, parody, and more. Each form of humor carries its own appeal, but I have a special fondness for one-word jokes.

What is a one-word joke? Well, I don't really know. I guess I mean a one-word punchline, ideally. But typically, in order for that one word to work, a lot of preparation has to happen first.

PhotoObjects.net/PhotoObjects.net/Getty ImagesExcept for shouting "POOP!" That's just gold every time.

I've been trying to write this column for months, but it was hard to pick my top five one-word comedy punchlines. I wanted to keep this a movie-based list, but as I asked various people their opinions, one entry from television kept coming up. Finally, I had to relent. Also, a tip for you, the reader: Don't try to have this discussion with dudes you don't know at public urinals. They don't like it.

Anyway, Young Frankenstein tells the story of the famous monster maker's grandson -- a respected American medical doctor who has distanced himself from his grandfather's mad scientist roots. Nevertheless, when he lives in his now deceased grandfather's house and inherits his grandfather's staff, he too becomes obsessed with reanimating corpses.

The mansion is headed by Frau Blucher, a very stern and frightening woman that even horses seem afraid of. Every time her name is said, the horses freak out, which is a running gag in the movie. If you've never seen it, just download/rent/buy/whatever it, because this clip I found is really just a best of and it ruins the whole timing for the moment when Marty Feldman (as humble servant "Eye-Gore") just screams her last name deliberately to mess with the horses:

Note: I'll let you in on a little secret. Very often, what I would personally rank as the "best" or #1 entry on a list I'll stick in the last spot. Why? Well, I have what doctors refer to as "a terrible personality." Actually, I do it when that entry is the best at explaining the overall concept of the list so we're all on the same page at the get-go.

#4. "Her?" from Arrested Development

This is the only entry on the list that's not from a movie, and it's the response I got most often when quizzing people for their choices. Like all lovely people with exceptionally nice genitalia, I'm a huge Arrested Development fan. If you're not familiar with the show, read some of my columns about it. That won't really help you, but I always enjoy the page views. Thanks!

Anyway, "Her?" is a running gag on the show. George-Michael (portrayed by Michael Cera) has a girlfriend, Ann, whom no one seems to approve of. And even though George-Michael is seemingly no catch, the whole family is sure he can do better than Ann. Accordingly, everyone has the same one-word reaction when they learn who George-Michael is dating. You can jump to about three minutes in for a montage.

Season 4 might have had the best "Her?" joke of all, as Ann's father is a minister at the church of the Holy Eternal Rapture. The church name is abbreviated above her head on her wedding:

God bless Mitchell Hurwitz.

#3. "Groovy" from Evil Dead II

This suggestion came from Cracked's own Brendan McGinley! I know. It didn't really occur to me, because in my mind, Evil Dead II sits in the horror genre, but I have to say, it's a damn fine pick, because as anyone who's seen Evil Dead II knows, it's funny.

Evil Dead II follows the adventures of Ash (Bruce Campbell) as he battles evil forces in a cabin in the woods. Younger readers probably don't appreciate how important this movie is precisely because it was so influential. Just about every comically dark horror film of the last 20 years owes a debt to Evil Dead II. Now, when we see a trailer for the new Machete movie, we understand what kind of film we're in for. We're expecting tongue-in-cheek, ridiculously overdone absurdity and thrills. But when my friends and I watched Evil Dead II as kids, we couldn't fully believe what we were seeing. We watched it almost confused, wondering how the film was "allowed" to get made. Then we wondered why, if such awesomeness was possible, people didn't do it all the time.

The great one-word punchline of Evil Dead II is Ash's oft-quoted "groovy" once he transforms himself into a full-blown zombie killer, complete with sawed-off shotgun and chainsaw hand. But, y'know what, to really appreciate the buildup and release of the one-word gag, you need the horror that precedes it, so watch this first:

Yeah, he cut off his possessed hand. And now he means business:

I realize some of you just saw that for the first time. Feel free to name your firstborn after me. If you know it. It's not Marion, as Adam Tod Brown would have you believe.